Block a text message sender on iPhone or Android

You can block a text sender directly from your Messages app on both iPhone and Android. The exact steps depend on which phone you have, but both let you stop seeing messages from a specific number or contact without deleting past conversations.

On an iPhone, open Messages, find the conversation you want to block, swipe left on it, tap the three dots that appear, then tap "Block this Caller." On an Android phone, open Messages (or your default texting app), press and hold the conversation, tap "Block" or the block icon, then confirm. Some Android phones may label this option differently — look for "Block number" or "Block contact."

Once you block someone, their texts won't reach your phone, and they won't be notified that you blocked them. You won't see their messages in your inbox, but the conversation stays in your message history if you want to look back at it later.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users swipe left on a conversation in Messages, tap the three dots, and select "Block this Caller" to stop receiving texts from that number.
  • Android users press and hold a conversation in their texting app, then tap "Block" or a similar option to prevent future messages from that sender.
  • Blocked senders won't know they're blocked, and their texts won't appear in your inbox, though past messages stay in your history.
  • You can unblock someone later by going to your phone's settings or the Messages app and finding your blocked list.
  • Blocking a text sender is different from blocking a phone call — you may need to block the number separately in your phone's call settings if you want to stop calls too.

Block a number through your phone's settings

If you don't have an active conversation with the person you want to block, or if you prefer to manage all your blocked numbers in one place, you can block through your phone's main settings.

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Phone, scroll down to "Blocked Contacts," and tap "Add New." Type or paste the phone number you want to block. On Android, open Settings, go to Apps, select your default messaging or phone app, look for "Blocked numbers" or "Block list," and add the number there. The exact path varies by phone manufacturer — Samsung phones, for example, may have this under "Messages" settings rather than in the main Settings app.

This method works even if you've never received a message from that number. It's useful if someone gives you a number to block before they contact you, or if you want to block a number you found in a spam email or online.

Stop spam and marketing texts without blocking individual numbers

If you're getting unwanted texts from businesses or marketing services, blocking each number individually isn't practical. Most carriers and phones offer a spam filter that catches these automatically.

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Messages, and turn on "Filter Unknown Senders." This moves texts from people not in your contacts to a separate tab. On Android, open Messages, tap the three-line menu, go to Settings, and turn on "Spam protection" or "Block unknown." Some Android phones also let you report spam directly — press and hold the message, tap "Report spam," and your carrier gets notified.

You can also text STOP to any marketing number that texts you. By law, legitimate businesses must honor this request within a few days. Scammers and illegal operations won't, so if STOP doesn't work, that's a sign to block the number directly.

Unblock a number if you change your mind

Blocked numbers stay blocked until you remove them. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Phone, scroll to "Blocked Contacts," swipe left on the number you want to unblock, and tap "Unblock." On Android, go to Settings, find your messaging or phone app settings, locate "Blocked numbers," find the number in the list, and tap "Unblock" or the delete icon.

Once you unblock someone, their texts will come through again, and they'll appear in your inbox like any other message. You won't get a backlog of messages they sent while they were blocked — those are gone.

Block texts from unknown numbers or private callers

Some unwanted texts come from numbers that show up as "Unknown," "Private," or "No Caller ID." You can't block these the same way you block a regular number because there's no specific number to target.

Your best option is to use your phone's spam filter (described above) or contact your carrier. Most carriers offer a spam-blocking service — Verizon has Call Filter, AT&T has Call Protect, and T-Mobile has Scam Shield. These services cost money on some plans but are free on others. Call your carrier's customer service number (usually on your bill) to ask what spam-blocking tools come with your plan.

You can also report these texts to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This doesn't block future texts, but it helps the government track patterns and take action against large-scale scam operations.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a text sender, several things happen on your phone. Their messages won't show up in your inbox, and you won't get notifications when they text you. If they call you, the call goes to voicemail without ringing your phone. They won't receive a message saying they're blocked — the text will simply fail to send on their end, or they may see a delivery error after a delay.

The person you blocked can still see your contact information, call your number, or send you emails — blocking only affects texts and calls through your phone's native apps. If you want to prevent them from contacting you through other methods, you may need to block them on social media, email, or messaging apps separately.

Your past conversations with a blocked person stay in your message history. You can still read old texts from them, but you won't receive new ones. If you delete the conversation, you lose access to those old messages.

Block a contact vs. blocking a number

There's a difference between blocking a contact (a person saved in your phone) and blocking a phone number (a number that may or may not be in your contacts). When you block a contact, you block all the phone numbers and email addresses associated with that contact. When you block a number, you block only that specific number.

If someone has multiple phone numbers and you want to block all of them, it's easier to block the contact. If you want to block just one number from someone who has several, block the number instead. You can also block a contact and then unblock a specific number they use if you change your mind about one of their lines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No official notification goes to them, but they may figure it out if they notice their texts aren't delivering or their calls go straight to voicemail. There's no way for them to check your blocked list, and your phone won't send them a message saying they're blocked.

Will I still see messages from blocked numbers if they text me?

No. Blocked messages won't appear in your inbox or send you a notification. The conversation won't show up unless you unblock the number. However, the sender may not know their message failed to reach you — it depends on their phone and carrier.

What's the difference between blocking and muting a conversation?

Muting silences notifications from a conversation but you still receive the messages. Blocking stops the messages from reaching you at all. Use muting for people you want to hear from eventually but not right now, and blocking for people you don't want to hear from.

Can I block a text from an email address?

If someone is texting you through an email-to-SMS service (like sending a text through their email), you can block the phone number that appears, but you can't block the email address itself through your phone's texting app. You'd need to block them through your email provider instead.

Do I need to block someone separately for calls and texts?

On most phones, blocking a number blocks both texts and calls from that number. However, some older Android phones or certain carriers may require you to block calls and texts separately. Check your phone's call settings if you block a number for texts but still receive calls from them.